Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

Geography Largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean. Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E Area: total: 541.3 sq kmland: 541.3 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmSize comparison: three times the size of Washington, DC

Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Guamconventional short form: Guamlocal long form: Guahanlocal short form: Guahan Government type: NA Capital: name: Hagatna (Agana)geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 Etime difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US) Independence: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521) Constitution: Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950 Legal system: modeled on US; US federal laws apply Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislatureelections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2010)election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)elections: last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, Republican Party 5note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 1 Judicial branch: Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip J. FLORES] (controls the legislature) Political pressure groups and leaders: Guam Federation of Teachers' Union; Guam Waterworks Authority Workersother: activists; indigenous groups International organization participation: IOC, SPC, UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US) Executive branch: chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2010) election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA

Communications Telephones in use: 65,500 (2003) Cellular Phones in use: 98,000 (2004) Telephone system: general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbersdomestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internetinternational: country code - 1-671; major landing point for submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2005) Television broadcast stations: 3 (2006) Internet country code: .gu Internet hosts: 36 (2008) Internet users: 65,000 (2005)